The following article on Essendon VFLW star Courtney Ugle was originally published in this year's spring edition of the Coles Health & Beauty magazine. Coles is the official partner of Essendon’s Tiwi Women’s Pathway Program, the club’s official supermarket partner and official shorts partner of the VFLW Bombers.

When Courtney Ugle says her friendships have helped her get to where she is today, she means it both literally and figuratively.

Once COVID-19 put an abrupt end to this year's VFLW season, the star Bomber phoned a family friend in Coolangatta, Queensland, and headed north to play there instead.

On a much deeper level, however, she says one of the best things about playing football growing up is that it introduced her to a tight-knit group of 'forever friends'.

"The amazing thing about about footy is that you walk into a group of friends automatically," Ugle says.

"I've been through some pretty hard losses and those friends that were there for me then, and still are now, are the forever friends that I know I can trust with everything that I have."

Ugle admits that she invests plenty of time and effort into maintaining these friendships.

"I like to take care of people and when that's reciprocated, that's when I feel like a friendship works wonderfully.

"I've got friends that I might not talk to for weeks at a time, but I know if I'm not having the best day, a phone call with them will be the best phone call I've had in a long time."

Alongside her playing career, Ugle is Essendon's women's football development coordinator. Working with up-and-coming talent from around the country, she's seen how strong friendships can make a difference.

"In particular, I manage our Tiwi Women's Pathway Program, something I'm so passionate about," says Ugle, who is a proud Noongar woman.

"I help young Aboriginal girls achieve their dream of playing footy, but also help them develop into young, strong black women who could essentially be living in two worlds."

As well as working hard to keep her own friendships strong, Courtney says she's learned how important it is to really be herself when making new friends.

"The advice I would give others is, don't pretend to be someone you're not, be your true self. The people who want to be part of your life will gravitate towards you and it's not going to be an effort," she says.

Similarly, the relationships that are most important to her aren't necessarily the ones that are the most public.

"The friendships that I hold dear to my heart are genuine and don't have to be posted all over social media. The world doesn't need to know all about it because I know in my heart they are people I trust wholeheartedly and that's reciprocated - and that's something I find very valuable," she says.

"There's no way I would be where I am If I didn't have the support of my friends."